World

The Associated Press

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s military said Indian troops opened fire from across the frontier in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, killing at least four civilians.

In a statement, the military said Pakistani troops returned fire but blamed India for initiating the gun battle that took place Thursday in the village of Charwa.

It was unclear whether there were any casualties on the Indian side.

Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety. Such exchanges of gunfire are common in Kashmir, which has been the cause of two of three wars between the two nuclear-armed countries since 1947, the year they gained independence from Britain.

FRANCE

Thousands protest Macron’s labor law

PARIS — Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Paris and other French cities against President Emmanuel Macron’s contested labor law reforms Thursday — a day before he adopts them by executive order.

The nationwide action, backed by the powerful, hard-left CGT trade union, saw protesters take to the streets in the second round of public opposition to the long-touted changes that will give more power to employers to hire and fire workers. Macron says that’s needed to power the stagnant French economy and boost jobs. In Paris, huge crowds turned out to a protest that police said was attended by 16,000 people. Organizers put the figure at 55,000.